ToT: Music...Makes The People..Come Together..

We are discussing music this week on Together on Tuesday. How has music influenced your life? What is your favorite song and or artist? Is there a certain song that inspires or motivates you, or just makes you feel happy, sad, etc. I have to say that I love this topic.  I could probably write about this topic for days. Pages and Pages.  Don't worry though, I won't...or I will try not to anyways (by the way did any one catch the Madonna reference in the title?). 

I've been told I have a very broad (read: weird) taste in music.  If someone were to pick up my ipod or look through my CD collection, they would probably be somewhat disappointed, and confused.  I know a lot of people say they like all different kinds of music, but I truly do like all kinds of music.  We just got a new computer, and I lost my old play list so right now there is just an abbreviated version of it that mostly consists of dance music.  (What can I say, I like to shake it a little when I'm getting ready in the morning). Before it was wiped clean, there was gospel, country, rap, pop, alternative, blues, classical, movie soundtracks, lullabies, classic rock, Broadway tunes, and probably a few more genres that I'm leaving out.  I really have never limited myself to a certain category of music.  If it moves me, I listen to it. Period.  I have some far out there foreign music that I like because it reminds me of the time I spent in Germany during my foreign exchange program, or the semester I spent abroad in Australia (La La La La La by Kylie Minogue-a reference for Leah).  I've taken a lot of flack for my "broad" taste in music, but it makes me happy, so I don't really care. 

I love how music can speak to a person's soul and be a very personal, emotional experience.  On the other hand, there is also nothing better than sitting around with friends when a song everyone loves comes on and heads start bobbing and toes start tapping.  I love that-especially if it's an old song that has some memories attached to it.  Nothing can take you back to a time or place faster than an old song, in my opinion (even if it is "Baby Got Back"-that's for you Danielle). I have to insert a funny story here about this recently happening at my 10 year reunion.  The band started playing the song Wild Wild West" and I immediately started doing a dance that my friend Gina and I made up to this song in 3rd grade.  You can imagine how cool I looked doing this dance at age 32-by myself. Awesome....anyhow...It's also fun to make memories with current songs.  I can say there are some songs from my past that I once loved, but now change them as soon as they come on the radio because they stir up emotions or feelings about past people or events that I don't care to relive.  That's okay, too-there is usually something on the radio that will pull me out of my funk.

There are some bands or artists that I really love, but I don't want to get into a long list here (Matchbox 20, No Doubt, U2, and many, many more), but there are definitely some songs or bands that make me think of certain people in my life whenever they come on the radio.  I thought it would be fun just to name a few:

• Journey-my mom
• John Mellencamp-my dad
• Alan Jackson Gospel: my grandpa
• "When I get where I'm going" by Dolly Parton and Brad Paisley-my great-grandma
• Elvis-my grandma
• Michael Jackson-my great-grandma and aunt
• Queen-my  mom (again) and aunt
• U2-Jake

It's fun to look at the musical influences I had growing up.  I was a HUGE Michael Jackson fan when I was little.  I even had a replica red leather jacket with zippers just like he wore in the "Beat It" video.  Unfortunately someone sold it in a garage sale or else Sam would be sporting that baby.  The first concert I ever went to was a Michael Jackson concert. I was about five years old, and when he came out with that thriller number, that was curtains for me.  I was freaking terrified.  Speaking of concerts I love live music.  There is nothing better than listening to a good band perform.  Even going to an orchestra concert or musical is high on my list of fun things to do.  I get goosebumps every time I see a musical-doesn't matter if it's "Wicked" or "The Lion King."  I haven't been to a concert in ages.  The last one I went to was U2 in Chicago last year.  That was a great last concert though.

Another way that music used to make me happy was by playing it.  I played the viola from 5th grade all the way through senior year in high school.  I always joke that I faked my way through it, but in all seriousness it was one of the most challenging and rewarding things I have ever done.  I don't have a great ear for notes being in tune (the challenging side of it), but whenever a performance came together, there was nothing more rewarding.  I also loved orchestra for the camaraderie.  Most people don't even know what a viola is (it is a stringed instrument that is larger than a violin and has a deeper sound, and no it's not the cello), but one of my dearest friends and I spent everyday playing that sucker for years.  One of the coolest and (Danielle, I can hear you groaning already) most grueling playing experiences was a 24 hour marathon that we played at during high school.  We were raising money to go on a trip with the orchestra to the Bahamas and Florida (terrible, terrible trip).   Anyhow-we had about four songs that we as an orchestra could pretty much play by memory.  Two were classical pieces, one was a "Mancini Melody (with pink panther theme)," and the other was a James Bond mish mash of songs from all of the 007 movies.  We then invited guest conductors to come in and conduct any piece of their choosing.  Well, guess which song EVERYONE wanted to conduct? That's right-James Bond.  I will be never be able to hear that 007 theme song again without wincing. 24 hours is a long time my friends. Despite all of that, I do regret that I didn't keep up with my playing on a minimal level.  I have some dream of one day picking it up again-the viola is resting quietly under my bed until that time.

I better wrap this up, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention how I love sharing music with my family.  We have so much fun putting on a silly song (Chelsea's Dagger or Go, Cubs, Go!) and dancing around the house.  Sam just recently went to camp, and came home singing camp songs that I sang when I was growing up.  It was so cool.  His eyes lit up when he started singing "A rick of bamboo," and I joined right in with him.  He couldn't believe that I knew that song, too.  It's also cute when they sing the words to songs using the wrong lyrics.  Sam loves that "Afro, Circus, Polka Dot" bit in the latest "Madagascar 3" trailer, but he thinks the zebra says apple instead of Afro.  Of course like any good parent, I just go ahead and let him sing it that way. lol. I could go on and on about music and it's importance in my life, but I will stop here, and let you check out what the other ToT gals have to say about it.  Check out there blogs in my blog list to the right.